The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-28
NEWsBoYs' HOME ANNIVERSARY.
Short Speeches by Senator Harrison, Mayor
Denny and Others Last Night.

The First Baptist Church last evening. had
large audience that manifested the keenest inter-
est in the exercises attending the first anniver-
sary Of the Newsboys' Home A programme of
music and short addresses was fol owed. begin
ming with Scripture reading by Mrs. L. E. Reed
After prayer by Dr. Jeffery. who also directed
the exercises, that stirring song. Bring
ing in the Sheaves" was given by
the choir, but of all who enjoyed
the evening none were more attentive than the
wards of the Home, of whom some forty or fifty
had front seats There was nothing that the
little fellows missed, for their eyes and ears
were on the alert from the beginning to the end
OF the programme Dr. Jeffery talked directly
to them, and urged upon them the Importance
OF Christian life. 1t was the love of Christ
that would bring them to a strong and honored
manhood. They should always listen to that
good counsel which is supported by religious
teachings
The report of the work Of the Home, read by
Miss Mollie q. Hay, president of the Y. W. c.
T. u, under the direction and efforts of which
the institution was established, referred to the
care the newsboys and bootblacks ought to have
in enabling them to fulfill in the future the part
became fact the Young Woman's Christian
Temperance Union had the plan under consider
alton. 1t was proposed to bring the street waits
under such Christian Influence and sympathy
that wouid make them appreciate their own
work and to inspire them with higher aims
Of life. On the 18th of March, 1856. the
Home began with four rooms in the
| basement of No. 6S North Pennsylvania street.
Meals, amusements and Sunday-sehool were
all that conid be offered to boys at that place.
Sept IN
| the managers secured spacious house on West
| Ohio street. More than hundred boys have,
during the year, regularly enjoyed the benefits
| of the home. either in lodgings meals. or both
| together The average daily record is now
| thirty have meals eighteen have lodgings, forty
attend the reading room and twenty five the
! Sunday evening bible class Besides these ben
efits the little fellows have baths and the OF
gymnasium They DO not come there OBJ
iects of charity, for each one is required TO pay
| for what he gets. A boy can have
meal for up to 20 cents. and
so with lodging, the purpose being
to let the beneiciaries of the place pay the actual
| cost of what they procure. During the year
! 81 06G.0 was received from meals, $l09 50 from
| lodgings; total paid by the boys, $l.175 SO. In
| addition this the managers received from col
,ectons $s05 &c. from Sunday -schols. $l19. and
| from public schools $50. IS The expendii ures
were 81, l03,75. leaving balance of $40 OF.
which has been applied to rent. Merchants gave
| furniture, food and other articles to assist the
| ladies' There is newshoys' bank at the home
and 1t has resulted in many small savings. more
than one little depositor having now s75 to his
credit The boys who last winter shivered in
| rags have this season supplied themselves with
warm and substantial clothing.
| DIR. Jeffefy in introducing Senator Harrison,
| who had been selected to talk about 'The Street
Wait and Future Citizenship" said the city
| ought to congratulate itself that it had so many
| distinguished citizens who ready to identi-
| fy themselves with everything that would i'm
prove the morals of the city He referred in
| this to the presence of Mayor Denny and Sena
tor Harrison, the latter of whom had national,
| yes COSMOPOLITAN reputation. Senator Harri
son said the home had won his sympathy from
| the start. He did not regard it charity for
| the report shows it is not. and the sweet sense
Of that word as it is used in the Bible has been,
| to degree, lost in this day. The home
is most interesting and successful
| operative society. He was amazed to hear
| of the large aggregate the little savings
of these boys had reached. and he hoped the BOYS
| would appreciate the fact taught them in the in
sfitntion. that it is a great deal better TO earn
| what one gets than to have it given him. The
| Senator then spoke of American citizenship,
which did not come through election, for one is
born to become a citizen, and in leading these
hoys TO make themselves good and influential
citizens the first thing to do Was to relieve them
of the impression that they are ou:casts. Give
them home life. for that is the rnos
and strength of country. The
boys can't be given mother
for that is Gods gift, but they can have a
He spoke of the innate manliness the boys dis.
play in the reverses of their trade It this
experience that develoned in them manly fiber
and gave growth TO virtues in sef-reliaDce and
independence.
Mayor Denny said there were 500 licensed
uewsboys in the city. and described the system
under which these licenses granted What
was paid for them brought no revenue to the
city. and the boys were only required to pay a
fee that would cover the cost of the badges
given Them This charge made at
the request of the ladies of the home, and
the boys paid it willingly. He had already seen
the good influence of the Home in leading the
boys to care for themselves and to take pride in
better conduct There had been of them
| since the Home was started before him for petty
offenses, which was frequently the case before
| this admirable influence began. The improve
| ment was very marked. The Rev. j. A. Rond-
thaler made brisk speech in the interest of To-
| ecrptions to the Home and to it very liberal
response was given. E. W. Halford was the
last speaker, and his remarks were devoted to
the Christian sympathy the work of the ladies
| deserved